Lamp and socket decorative locking device

ABSTRACT

A decorative protective and locking closure for a lamp and socket combination is disclosed. Complementary section members have interlocking features which, when engaged, provide a protective closure and covering device secured about a lamp and socket combination so that the lamp cannot be removed without disengagement of the complementary section members forming the closure.

United States Patent Flowers et al.

[451 June 13, 1972 [54] LAMP AND SOCKET DECORATIVE LOCKING DEVICE [72] Inventors: Leonard B. Flowers, 753 Valley Chase Road, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 480l3; Vincent F. Okuniewskl, 5136 Gerald Street, Warren, Mich. 48092 [22] Filed: May 20, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 145,348

[52] U.S.Cl. ..240/l02A [51] Int.Cl. [58] FieldofSearch ..240/l02R,lO2A,153

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,642,646 9/1927 Chase ..240/l02 X 2,417,364 3/1947 Hunt ..240/l02 2,774,049 12/1956 Kibleretal. ..240/102X Primary Examiner-Samuel S. Matthews Assistant Examiner-Michael L. Gellner Attorney-Benjamin W. Colman [57] ABSTRACT A decorative protective and locking closure for a lamp and socket combination is disclosed. Complementary section members have interlocking features which, when engaged. provide a protective closure and covering device secured about a lamp and socket combination so that the lamp can not be removed without disengagement of the complementary section members forming the closure.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures rmmtnmm we 3,670,160

INVENTORS LEONARD B. FLOWERS 8 BY VINCENT E OKUNIEWSKI ATTORNEY LAMP AND SOCKET DECORATIVE LOCKING DEVICE The invention relates to a decorative protective locking device for a lamp and socket, especially lamps and sockets of the style generally currently utilized for holiday decorations, to substantially reduce pilferage, theft, and vandalism of the lamp bulbs. It has been observed that some children have been prone to extract the lamp bulbs from sockets in decorative displays when exposed on the outside of a home or building. The locking device comprises a pair of complementary substantially identical members having socket and lamp covering portions, the pair of members having interlocking engaging male and female components so that when the members are secured together, their separation can only be effected by the insertion of a tool which pries them apart.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a locking device adapted to secure an electric lamp in its socket whereby pilferage and theft of the lamp from its socket is substantially reduced. Another object is to provide a decorative type locking device for a lamp and socket whereby its appearance and utility as a display device are materially enhanced. A further object is to provide such a locking device which is formed of complementary half-sections cooperatively conjoined by fastener elements embodied in each section member. Yet another object is to provide such a locking device which can be molded of plastic materials, at relatively low cost, and with an enhanced decorative display appearance.

Various further and more specific objects, features, and advantages of the invention will appear from the description given below, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating by way of example preferred forms of the invention. Reference is here made to the drawing annexed hereto and forming an integral part of this specification, in which FIG. l'is a perspective view'of anelectric socket with lamp bulb inserted therein covered by a preferred embodiment of the decorative protective locking device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lamp and socket combination with the complementary half-section members of the locking device illustrated in spaced-apart relationship.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view taken substantially in the direction and on the line 4-4 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view, similar to that illustrated in FIG. 3, taken medially of modified rib members at the top and one side of conjoined section members.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified rib member having a decorative prism-type'surface configuration.

As shown particularly in the several views of the drawing, the decorative protective lamp and socket locking device 10 comprises a pair of complementary section members 12 and 14 substantially identical with each other except for the interengaging fastener locking features to be described more particularly below. The section member 12 is provided with female fastener member receiving openings and the section member 14 is provided with complementary male fastener ele ments so that upon inter-engagement the section members interlock to provide the device 10. In all other respects, the section members 12 and 14 are substantially identical. Therefore, a description of one of these members is to be understood as a description of the other.

The section member 12 comprises a front end lamp-shielding nose portion 16, a plurality of longitudinally extending ribs 18, a body portion 19 having a semi-circular inwardly directed flange 20 and terminating in a semi-circular socket overlying portion 22. As illustrated particularly in FIG. 2, the lateral facing edges 24 and 26 of the section member lie substantially in a plane. These facing edges in the section member 12 are provided with fastener receivingand engaging openings 28, and are arranged for registering engagement with the projecting fastener prongs 30 of the section member 14. The inwardly directed flange 20 is adapted to'be disposed behind the annular shoulder 31 of socket 32, to engage the same, when section members 12 and 14 are secured together.

The lamp socket 32 is provided with conductors 34,34 extending therefrom for connection in an electrical circuit. The lamp 36 is secured in any usual manner to the socket 32 and has a threaded or bayonet type base for electrical connection and securement with the socket 32.

The section members 12 and 14 of the locking device 10 are preferably molded of plastic materials such as low or high density polyethylenes, polypropylenes, acrylics, butyrates, or any other suitable plastic material which can be molded to the form, style and construction disclosed herein. The plastic materials should preferably have physical characteristics such that it will not readily break or shatter at temperatures down to 20 below 0 F, nor become substantially soft at temperatures up to about F. The plastic material should be tough and substantially rigid so that separation of the fastener elements cannot be effected without considerable effort and force. To this end a pry slot 38 is provided in the section member 14 in each of its edges 24 and 26 whereby a screw driver blade can be readily inserted for prying open and separating the two section members from their locking engagement.

As shown particularly in FIG. 5, a modified form of rib member 18 is illustrated. The transverse cross-sectional configuration of the ribmembers 18a provides a smoothly rounded surface at their crowns, including the matching rib members at the juncture of the complementary section members l2 and 14. Other cross-sectional rib configurations include but are not limited to transverse sections in the forms of triangles, ovals, etc.

FIG. 6 illustrates one type or style of surface decoration for the rib members, which may include and cover the nose and proximal portions 16 and 22 respectively overlying the lamp and socket, the decoration illustrated being in the form of light reflective prisms molded into the outer and/or inner surface of the complementary section members 12 and 14. It will of course be understood that any one of a number of surface designs may be embodied in the section members to achieve particularly desirable effects. The surface designs and rib forms herein described and illustrated are merely representative exemplary embodiments of such forms and designs.

When the section members 12 and 14 are secured together by the fastening elements 28 and 30 about the lamp and socket 36,32, it becomes relatively and substantially difficult for youngsters particularly to disengage the lamp 36 from its socket, because the section members are very securely fastened together. Unless the youngster has a pry tool, the engagement of the fastener elements is such that they will not be easily separated by hand. i

The decorative locking device 10 of this invention provides for complementary section members 12 and 14 which can be molded of plastic materials, in clear or colored hue, transparent translucent or opaque, so that when secured about a lamp and socket, a white lamp bulb will be materially intensifted in appearance by the locking device of this invention. The inventive device can be molded of plastic in any number of colors or combinations of colors, which can be utilized with clear, white, orcolor'edlamp bulbs. The longitudinally extending ribs 18 of the device 10 can be made rectilinear in transverse crosssection, oval or of any other suitable cross-sectional design. The complementary section members forming the locking device are preferably molded as integral units with the self-locking fastener elements embodied therein.

The section members can be molded with various designs, colorations, and configurations of'the nose, rib members and body portions according to various artistic preferences, so long as the general contour and structural features herein disclosed are maintained.

Although a certain'particular embodiment of the invention is herein described for purposes of explanation, further modifications thereof, after study of this specification, will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. Reference should be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

We claim: 1. A decorative protective closure for an assembled electric lamp and socket comprising in combination at least two complementary engageable section members, each being integrally formed as a unit and having a distal portion adapted to overly and circumscribe said lamp and a proximal portion adapted to overly and generally closely conform to the outer surface configuration of said socket, 7 said distal portion having a forward nose portion and rearwardly extending radially spaced apart ribs connecting said nose and proximal portions, said proximal portion having an inwardly directed flange and a socket overlying portion, said section members each having complementary removably engageable fastener elements in register with the other for locking engagement of said section members, whereby when said fastener elements are interengaged said section members form a unitary device enclosing and securing said lamp against facile separation from said socket while exposing portions of said lamp to view.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members are formed of a plastic material as integral units. 3. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members are formed as molded plastic units.

4. The structure defined in claim 1. wherein said section members are formed of a transparent plastic material which is colorless or in color.

5. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members are formed of a translucent plastic material which is colorless or in color.

6. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members are formed of an opaque plastic material which is in color.

7. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the facing contiguous edge surfaces of each said section member is provided with said complementary fastener elements.

8. The structure defined in claim 7, wherein said fastener elements comprise a plurality of openings in the facing edge surface of one said section member and a like plurality of projections in the facing edge surface of the second said section member in register with said openings and adapted to securely and firmly engage said section members together in locking relationship.

9. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said rib members have a transverse cross-sectional form including rounded crown surfaces.

10. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members have outer and inner faces, at least one of said faces having decorative light-reflective prism surfaces thereon. 

1. A decorative protective closure for an assembled electric lamp and socket comprising in combination at least two complementary engageable section members, each being integrally formed as a unit and having a distal portion adapted to overly and circumscribe said lamp and a proximal portion adapted to overly and generally closely conform to the outer surface configuration of said socket, said distal portion having a forward nose portion and rearwardly extending radially spaced apart ribs connecting said nose and proximal portions, said proximal portion having an inwardly directed flange and a socket overlying portion, said section members each having complementary removably engageable fastener elements in register with the other for locking engagement of said section members, whereby when said fastener elements are interengaged said section members form a unitary device enclosing and securing said lamp against facile separation from said socket while exposing portions of said lamp to view.
 2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members are formed of a plastic material as integral units.
 3. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members are formed as molded plastic units.
 4. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members are formed of a transparent plastic material which is colorless or in color.
 5. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members are formed of a translucent plastic material which is colorless or in color.
 6. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members are formed of an opaque plastic material which is in color.
 7. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein the facing contiguous edge surfaces of each said section member is provided with said complementary fastener elements.
 8. The structure defined in claim 7, wherein said fastener elements comprise a plurality of openings in the facing edge surface of one said section member and a like plurality of projections in the facing edge surface of the second said section member in register with said openings and adapted to securely and firmly engage said section members together in locking relationship.
 9. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said rib members have a transverse cross-sectional form including rounded crown surfaces.
 10. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said section members have outer and inner faces, at least one of said faces having decorative light-reflective prism surfaces thereon. 